Measurement
Cubic Yard Calculator
This cubic yard calculator works out how many cubic yards of material fill a space from its length, width and depth, or from square feet and depth. Add several sections, mix feet and inches, and see the result in cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters.
Result
Enter your measurements and press Calculate. What to buy, the working and the cost will appear here.
How to use the cubic yard calculator
- Choose a shape for each section: a rectangle, a circle, or Known area if you already have the square footage.
- Enter the dimensions and the depth. Depth is usually in inches for beds, paths and slabs; switch the unit to feet for deep excavations.
- Add sections for separate beds or areas with different depths, and use How many for identical ones.
- Press Calculate to get cubic yards, cubic feet and cubic meters, plus the amount rounded up to order.
Cubic yard formula
A cubic yard is a cube 3 feet on each side, so it holds 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet. Work out the volume in cubic feet, then divide by 27:
cubic yards = length (ft) × width (ft) × depth (ft) ÷ 27
Depth is usually measured in inches, so divide it by 12 first. A 10 ft × 10 ft area filled 4 inches deep is 10 × 10 × 0.333 = 33.3 ft³, and 33.3 ÷ 27 = 1.23 cubic yards.
Square feet to cubic yards
If you already know the area, multiply square feet by the depth in inches and divide by 324 (that is 12 × 27):
cubic yards = square feet × depth (in) ÷ 324
For example, 500 ft² at 3 inches deep is 500 × 3 ÷ 324 = 4.63 cubic yards.
Worked example: filling raised beds and a path
Two raised garden beds are 8 ft × 4 ft and need 10 inches of soil. A 200 ft² path next to them gets 3 inches of gravel. Working each section out and adding them:
- Section 1 – Rectangle × 2: 8 ft × 4 ft = 32 ft²; × 10 in (0.83 ft) deep × 2 = 53.33 ft³
- Section 2 – Known area: known area 200 ft²; × 3 in (0.25 ft) deep = 50 ft³
- Convert: 103.33 ft³ ÷ 27 = 3.83 yd³
Together that is 3.83 yd³ (103.33 ft³). Soil and gravel are different materials, so in practice you would order each section separately; the topsoil and gravel calculators also give weight and bags. Open this example in the calculator.
Cubic yard coverage chart
How much one cubic yard covers, and how many cubic yards you need per 100 square feet, at common depths:
| Depth | Cubic yards per 100 ft² | One cubic yard covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 in | 0.31 yd³ | 324 ft² |
| 2 in | 0.62 yd³ | 162 ft² |
| 3 in | 0.93 yd³ | 108 ft² |
| 4 in | 1.23 yd³ | 81 ft² |
| 6 in | 1.85 yd³ | 54 ft² |
| 8 in | 2.47 yd³ | 41 ft² |
| 12 in | 3.7 yd³ | 27 ft² |
Typical depths: 2–3 in of mulch, 3–4 in of gravel for a path, 4–6 in of gravel base for a driveway, 4 in for a concrete patio slab, and 6–12 in of soil for raised beds.
Ordering by the cubic yard
- Round up. Landscape yards and concrete suppliers sell in ½ or ¼ yard steps, and running short costs a second delivery fee.
- Allow for settling and compaction. Gravel, soil and mulch settle, so order about 10% more than the measured volume. The material calculators add this for you.
- Bags versus bulk. One cubic yard is 27 bags of 1 ft³ or 13.5 bags of 2 ft³. For more than about a yard, bulk delivery is usually cheaper and far less lifting.
- Weight matters. A cubic yard of gravel weighs well over a ton. Check your truck or trailer rating before collecting it yourself.
Assumptions and limitations
- The result is the geometric volume of the space. It does not include compaction, settling or waste.
- Depth is treated as even across each section. For sloping ground, measure the depth in several places and use the average.
- Circles use the diameter measured straight across the widest point.
Cubic yard questions
How many cubic feet are in a cubic yard?
27. A cubic yard measures 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft. To convert cubic feet to cubic yards, divide by 27; to go the other way, multiply by 27.
How do I calculate cubic yards?
Multiply length × width × depth in feet to get cubic feet, then divide by 27. Convert inches to feet by dividing by 12 first. A 12 ft × 10 ft area at 6 in deep is 12 × 10 × 0.5 = 60 ft³, or 2.22 yd³.
How many square feet does a cubic yard cover?
It depends on the depth: 324 ft² at 1 inch, 162 ft² at 2 inches, 108 ft² at 3 inches and 81 ft² at 4 inches. Divide 324 by the depth in inches.
How many cubic yards are in a ton?
It depends on what the material weighs. Many gravels weigh about 1.4 tons per cubic yard, so a ton is roughly 0.7 cubic yards, while mulch is far lighter. Use the gravel calculator to convert between yards and tons.
How many bags make a cubic yard?
27 one-cubic-foot bags, 18 bags of 1.5 ft³, 13.5 bags of 2 ft³, or 9 bags of 3 ft³.
Formulas, unit conversions and default values are explained on our methodology page. Results are estimates; check manufacturer data and local codes before you buy or build.